Evangelisches Johannesstift

What Evangelisches Johannesstift does

Evangelisches Johannesstift is a German charitable foundation (Stiftung des bürgerlichen Rechts) founded on April 25, 1858 by theologian Johann Hinrich Wichern in Berlin, originally established to train deacons (Diakone) for church and diaconal service. From its 75-hectare campus in Berlin-Spandau, where approximately 1,600 people reside, the foundation today operates a diversified portfolio of social programs including hospice care, the 'Kinder beflügeln' educational campaign for disadvantaged children (reaching 21,000 children since 2008), the 'LeNa' elderly visiting service, the inclusive 'Schule ohne Grenzen' school project launched in 2021, and the Wichern-Kolleg deacon-training college, which since 2021 offers a joint bachelor's program with Evangelische Hochschule Berlin. The core paid team is small — 38 employees (13 full-time, 25 part-time, 7 minijob) — supported by 990 volunteers across the foundation and its subsidiary Johannesstift Diakonie gAG.

The foundation's business model is donation-led and mission-driven, with three identified revenue streams: donations and fundraising through the Freundeskreis (Friends' Circle); professional Stiftungsverwaltung services administering multiple trust foundations (Geschwister-Holroyd-Preuß, Hans und Meta Knorr, Ingeborg Dauß, Werner und Maren Otto, Wichern); and subsidiary operations including the on-campus Buchhandlung im Johannesstift GmbH bookstore. Services to beneficiaries are provided free or at subsidized rates. The foundation is the 100% shareholder of Johannesstift Diakonie gAG — the largest confessional health and social services company in Berlin and Northeast Germany with over 9,300 employees operating across six federal states — making the combined group a major regional care provider rather than the foundation entity itself. Marketing relies on social media, the annual Erntedankfest (24,000 visitors), Adventsmarkt (10,000 visitors), Run of Spirit, and PR partnerships with RBB.

Strategically, the foundation has prioritized educational capacity-building (Schule ohne Grenzen, EHB joint degree, Stiftungsprofessur), ESG positioning (founding member of AKI ethical-investment guidelines, ISS ESG rating since 2020), and trust-foundation administration as a recurring service line. A 2021 decision to waive Mietendeckel rent back-payments signaled public prioritization of social mission over financial recovery. No funding rounds, M&A, or venture capital involvement is indicated; governance rests with a four-member Vorstand chaired by Pfarrerin Anne Hanhörster and a Stiftungsrat chaired by Pfarrerin Ulrike Trautwein.

Name

Evangelisches Johannesstift

Legal name

Stiftung Evangelisches Johannesstift SbR

Website

https://evangelisches-johannesstift.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1858

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Religious Organizations (8131), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries (BPAGAKAE), Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK), Philanthropic & Charitable Trust Services (FSAAANAI), Ministerial Training Institutes (Clergy Formation) (EDAHAKAE)

Keywords

• Social services
• Diaconal education
• Elderly care
• Foundation management
• Voluntary services

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Primary revenue stream through donations from individuals, foundations, and corporate donors. The foundation operates a Freundeskreis (friends' circle) that finances current projects supporting young people, elderly, and people with disabilities.
2. Stiftungsverwaltung (Foundation Management Services): Administrative services provided to other foundations, handling all administrative tasks for their endowments.
3. Subsidiary Operations: Revenue from subsidiary Buchhandlung im Johannesstift GmbH (bookstore on campus) and investment returns.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Evangelisches Johannesstift is a charitable Protestant foundation that provides diaconal education and social services, including deacon training at the Wichern-Kolleg, inclusive schooling, elderly visiting programs, hospice care, voluntary services, and administers subsidiary charitable foundations. It operates a 75-hectare campus in Berlin-Spandau and is the sole shareholder of Johannesstift Diakonie gAG, a major healthcare and social services provider with over 9,300 employees.

Product overview

Evangelisches Johannesstift is a foundation (Stiftung des bürgerlichen Rechts) founded in 1858 by Johann Hinrich Wichern, providing social services and community support in Berlin-Brandenburg. The organization operates as a multi-faceted institution offering religious services through the Stiftskirche, educational programs via the Wichern-Kolleg (deacon training college), and the inclusive school project 'Schule ohne Grenzen'. It hosts major public events including the Erntedankfest, Run of Spirit, and Adventsmarkt. The foundation runs charitable campaigns like 'Kinder beflügeln' for disadvantaged children's education and the Ingeborg Dauß Stiftung scholarship program. It maintains approximately 1,600 residents on its 75-hectare campus in Berlin-Spandau and serves as sole shareholder to Johannesstift Diakonie gAG, one of the largest health and social services providers in Northeast Germany.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Wichern-Kolleg: Educational institution for training deacons (Diakon*innen) offering various programs including pre-studies, full-time study, and part-time training.
• Kinder beflügeln
• LeNa (Lebendige Nachbarschaft)
• Schule ohne Grenzen
• Buchhandlung Johannesstift
• Ingeborg Dauß Stiftung
• Geschwister-Holrord-Preuß-Stiftung
• Hans und Meta Knorr-Stiftung
• Wichern-Stiftung
• Werner und Maren Otto Stiftung

Quantifiable outcome

• 21,000 children reached since 2008 through 'Kinder beflügeln' campaign
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Arbeitskreis Kirchlicher Investoren (AKI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020The foundation is a founding member of the Working Group of Church Investors (AKI), which has developed guidelines for ethical-sustainable investment in the Protestant Church.
• FNG - Forum Nachhaltiger GeldanlagencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of the Forum for Sustainable Investment, promoting ethical and sustainable investment practices.
• CRIC - Verein zur Förderung von Ethik und NachhaltigkeitcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of the association for the promotion of ethics and sustainability in investments.
• Johannesstift Diakonie gAGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe foundation is the 100% shareholder of Johannesstift Diakonie gAG, the largest confessional health and social services company in Berlin and Northeast Germany with over 9,300 employees.
• Evangelische Hochschule Berlin (EHB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperative partner for the Diakonik study program; joint bachelor's degree Evangelische Religionspädagogik & Diakonik offered at Wichern-Kolleg.
• Evangelischer Kirchenkreis Berlin StadtmitteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-shareholder of the foundation alongside the church district.
• Diakonisches Werk Berlin-Brandenburg-schlesische OberlausitzcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of the Diaconal Works organization, promoting recognized charitable purposes of welfare associations.
• Initiative Transparente ZivilgesellschaftminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSignatory to the Transparent Civil Society initiative, committing to disclose goals, funding sources, usage, and decision-makers.
• August Hermann Francke SchulecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpecial education center for children with intellectual and physical-motor disabilities; partnered for 12+ years with Evangelische Schule Spandau on inclusive 'Schule ohne Grenzen' project.
• Evangelische Schule SpandaucoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary and secondary school with music focus; partnered with August Hermann Francke Schule on inclusive 'Schule ohne Grenzen' project in new barrier-free building.
• Evangelische Schulstiftung EKBOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool foundation for Protestant schools in Berlin-Brandenburg-schlesische Oberlausitz; co-trustee of 'Schule ohne Grenzen'.
• Studio GOOD GbRminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDesign and concept agency responsible for website design and TYPO3 programming.
• Meyer Misgin Media GmbHminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMedia company providing TYPO3 programming and web development services.
• Jessica GinkelminorGTM or Marketing PartnerActress supporting 'Kinder beflügeln' education campaign and Betterplace fundraising efforts.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Aktion Mensch: Germany's largest social lottery and grantmaking body for disability inclusion, youth, and social participation. Funds Johannesstift Diakonie Behindertenhilfe projects; comparable as a major funder of inclusion and social welfare programming nationwide.

Broad incumbents

• Bertelsmann Stiftung: Major German private foundation operating programs in education, social markets, healthcare, and democracy. Comparable as a large-scale operating foundation with multi-program grantmaking and policy engagement.
• Diakonie Deutschland: National umbrella organization for Protestant social welfare in Germany, of which Evangelisches Johannesstift is a member via Diakonisches Werk Berlin-Brandenburg. Comparable as the largest Protestant diaconal services network with similar social welfare, healthcare, and education programs.
• Gemeinnützige Hertie-Stiftung: Frankfurt-based German community foundation focused on brain research, education, and social participation. Comparable as a private German Stiftung running grant programs and operating initiatives in education and social welfare.
• Caritas Deutschland: Germany's largest Catholic welfare confederation and the closest denominational parallel to Diakonie. Operates analogous social services, education, elder care, and hospice programs nationally, serving as the natural faith-based counterpart for comparison.
• Robert Bosch Stiftung: One of Germany's largest private foundations, focused on education, social welfare, healthcare, and international relations. Comparable as a major German private foundation with a comparable mix of grantmaking, program operations, and thought leadership.

Direct peers

• Diakonisches Werk Berlin-Brandenburg-schlesische Oberlausitz: Regional Diakonie umbrella covering Berlin-Brandenburg where Evangelisches Johannesstift operates. Directly comparable as the coordinating body for Protestant diaconal institutions offering social services, training, and advocacy in the same geography.
• Evangelische Hochschule Berlin: State-recognized Protestant university in Berlin that co-delivers the Evangelische Religionspädagogik & Diakonik bachelor's program at Wichern-Kolleg. Directly comparable as the academic partner and a peer institution for Protestant social work and diaconal education in Berlin.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@EvJohannesstift
• Facebookfacebook.com/Evangelisches.Johannesstift
• Instagraminstagram.com/evangelischesjohannesstift
• Xx.com/evjohannesstift

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Evangelisches Johannesstift